There were 285,200 births registered in Australia in 2007, the highest number ever according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The previous record was in 1971, when there were 276,400 births registered.

This gives Australia a total fertility rate of 1.93 babies per woman, up from 1.81 in 2006 and the highest since 1981 when it was 1.94.

The Northern Territory and Tasmania had the highest total fertility rates, recording 2.27 and 2.19 babies per woman respectively.

Women in the Northern Territory and Tasmania also had their children at a younger age; fertility for these two states was at its highest in 25-29 year-olds - compared to the rest of Australia where the highest fertility was in the 30-34 age group.

Nearly half (43%) of the 2007 births were to first time mothers, and a third (33%) were having their second child.

There were 14,200 births registered where at least one parent was an Indigenous Australian.

More details are available in Births, Australia, 2007 (cat. no. 3301.0) available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>. Regional, State and Territory information is also available on the website.

Media Note: The total fertility rate represents the average number of babies that a woman could expect to bear during her reproductive lifetime if current fertility rates continued.

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